Issue 40, 2017

Mimicking muscle fiber structure and function through electromechanical actuation of electrospun silk fiber bundles

Abstract

Here we detail the fabrication and testing of artificial muscles fabricated from composites of the natural biopolymer silk fibroin and conducting polymers. Aligned nanofiber bundles of silk that mimic the structure of skeletal muscles were produced via electrospinning, and the fibers were infused with conducting polymers using chemical and electrochemical in situ polymerization methods. The resulting bundles of individual, electroactive fibers underwent electromechanical actuation in biologically-relevant electrolyte solutions when low potentials were applied, thus mimicking the contractile function of native muscles. The fabrication methods, bulk mechanical properties, stress and strain generation, and stability under repeated actuation for fiber bundles coated with different conducting polymer formulations are presented.

Graphical abstract: Mimicking muscle fiber structure and function through electromechanical actuation of electrospun silk fiber bundles

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
14 Jul 2017
Accepted
28 Sep 2017
First published
04 Oct 2017

J. Mater. Chem. B, 2017,5, 8105-8114

Mimicking muscle fiber structure and function through electromechanical actuation of electrospun silk fiber bundles

S. Y. Severt, S. L. Maxwell, J. S. Bontrager, J. M. Leger and A. R. Murphy, J. Mater. Chem. B, 2017, 5, 8105 DOI: 10.1039/C7TB01904A

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